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Granite mountains tower over sparkling streams that flow through wildflower meadows in Yosemite National Park (nps.gov), providing an ideal backdrop for a relaxing vacation in your fifth wheel trailer. It's a tight squeeze, to be sure, at some back-in sites: The Civilian Conservation Corp. built most of the campgrounds in the 1930s, when the majority of people camped in tents. But if your fifth wheel is 35 feet or less, you’ll find 10 campgrounds in the park with sites suitable to park your rig for up to a week, or even two, at a time.

Longest Fifth Wheel Sites

If your fifth wheel measures 25 to 35 feet, you’ll find a dozen sites in the park that can accommodate your rig. Lower Pines campground in Yosemite Valley has six sites suitable for this size trailer, with fire rings, picnic tables, drinking water and flush toilets. The campground lies along the Merced River, surrounded by a meadow, and has additional sites suitable for trailers up to 24 feet in length, including three double sites for larger families. Wheelchair-accessible sites are also available at this camp. The campground is open from March through October, with reservations required. You can reserve spots online up to five months in advance. North Pines lies in the same area, near the confluence of the Merced River and Tenaya Creek, with six additional spots (and identical amenities) for RVs 24 to 35 feet in length. The campground is open from April through September.

Year-Round Sites

If you’re looking to enjoy the park's scenery in the off season, head to one of its year-round campgrounds. Upper Pines campground in Yosemite Valley has spaces for fifth wheel trailers up to 24 feet in length, with standard amenities including flush restrooms, drinking water and the park’s only year-round dump station. South of Yosemite Valley, Wawona Campground provides spaces for families, equestrian campers and groups. Trailers are limited to 27 feet in the two horse sites, but some family spots can fit up to a 35-foot trailer. A dump station is provided during the summer.

Making Reservations

Reservations are required in the campgrounds during their peak seasons, usually from March or April through September or October. Year-round campgrounds operate on a first-come, first-served basis for the remainder of the year. When booking, keep in mind that some campgrounds have different length limits for RVs and trailers. The limits are not necessarily due to the length of the campsite parking spur, but because turning radius is limited. If you can safely fit your fifth wheel into a spot, the rangers will generally not enforce the size limits. However, they won't find you a different site if you book a spot and then are unable to fit your trailer into it.

Prepare for Bears

Storage lockers are provided in most campgrounds to lock up scented items including food, cosmetics, sundries and pet food. You may keep your scented items in your hard-sided fifth wheel trailer as long as you store it out of sight should a bear be peeking in the windows. Keep plates, coolers, sodas, pet food and other items a bear could associate with a meal out of sight as well. Pack food in airtight containers to help reduce aromas that could draw a bear to your site, and pick up pet food and water bowls outside when your pet is not eating.